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Coding is not just for engineering students anymore! Because technology plays such a fundamental role in our everyday life, programming has become a useful, almost essential, skill to have. With coding being often referred to as the “new literacy”, programming has become more common in school curriculum. Coding doesn’t have to be a complex and confusing subject. It can be a fun game that challenges your child’s critical thinking skills and encourages problem solving. Explore these three fun products that makes coding approachable and enjoyable, giving your child a leg up on learning this valuable skill.

Perfect for little learners 3 years and up, the Think and Learn Code-a-pillar will wiggle its way across your floor, following your child’s programmed commands. Includes eight segments that direct the Code-a-pillar to move and turn in different directions. Practice sequencing and problem solving skills by connecting segments of the Code-a-pillar to make it move to the destination target you selected. The Code-a-pillar’s lights and sounds with every wiggle are sure to delight your child as they code!

Meet Ozobot, a tiny robot with lots knowledge! The Ozobot uses optical sensors to read and then follow your child’s color code sequences that they have drawn on a piece of paper. With included games, brainteasers, and reusable coding stickers, Ozobot is sure to provide hours of STEM play. Your child can even give their Ozobot personality with included decor stickers!

Cubetto is an adorable wooden robot that your child can program and guide to lead Cubetto on adventures across the world map. As simple as placing coding blocks on an interface board! Don’t worry about your child become bored with coding, once they have mastered the world map, they can send their Cubetto on even more exciting and complicated adventures with additional maps and coding blocks sets! Cubetto combines the fun of a wooden robot’s adventures with a tangible coding learning activity!

With the use of fun, technology based toys such as these, you can make coding an accessible and engaging subject for your child. Giving them fundamental knowledge to help them excel at school and future possible career paths.

With recent developments as innovative as medical robots performing surgery and as hilarious as a 3D printer making pizza in outer space, the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (commonly known as STEM), and more specifically robotics are taking humanity farther than we ever thought possible. Allow your children to actively take part in shaping the world around them with the help of STEM practices.

In fact, by including robotics in regular play, you can engage children in different aspects of engineering and teach different scientific concepts. When children work with STEM toys and activities, they learn problem solving skills, creativity, ingenuity and critical thinking alongside developing a passion for science and mathematics. Keep reading for some great activities and toys to help foster your child’s interest in engineering.

Origami Robots – Start simple by creating a robot using origami. Using traditional Japanese paper folding, you can introduce your child to basic engineering concepts and help them begin to understand the importance of following instructions when it comes to larger projects. The Paper Punk Build Your Own Paper Bot002 incorporates creativity and individuality into construction. Instructions are simple, but stickers and a variety of patterns and designs keep kids from getting bored and allow them to explore their own ingenuity.

Starting Easy – Mio the Robot allows children to construct their own real life, programmable robot. The amount of interchangeable parts helps children think critically and encourages creativity as they bring their robot to life. You can also help children learn some programming basics and work on mathematics to make the robot move!

Explore Versatility – With the Smart Lab Motorblox Robot Lab, children will learn how to build something from scratch. The Robot Lab allows children to build and test three different walking robots. Adding movement allows children to develop problem-solving and experimentation skills while learning about mechanics.

The Big Leagues – Step up the programming game with the ReCon 6.0, a programmable rover that young engineers can program to navigate specific courses. Children can program the robot to deliver a treat to a pet, surprise a family member with a personalized message, carry a soda, guard a bedroom, or even dance! By working with a more complex type of programming, they will engage with early mathematics and delve into more complicated problem solving.

Schools are pushing for more STEM concepts in the classroom, but who says they have to stay there? Allow your young ones to put on their thinking caps and encourage exploration, experimentation, and excitement at home with their own personal robot friends! For more STEM toys and products, visit the STEM and STEAM section of our website.